Dems say 'innovation,' GOP says 'spending'

But McCarthy conceded there was some fun in the bipartisan seating arrangements at last night’s event, noting that the most popular Republican date to the address was South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, the member who yelled out “You lie” as Obama addressed Congress during a speech on health care in 2009. This year, many Democrats wanted Wilson as their partner in the symbolic gesture of mixing up the traditional partisan seating arrangements.

Blunt and Coons were more appreciative of Obama’s bipartisan tone. As a freshman in the upper chamber, Blunt said he’s noticed already that senators “reach out more” than members of the House. He was forced to reach across aisle when he was minority whip in the House, but now that act is commonplace in the Senate.

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“There are times when divided government really does create an opportunity, and the opportunity is to do some really hard things,” said Blunt. “The tone here in the next few days will make a big difference.”

The novelty of the State of the Union did not appear lost on Israel, who was the only new member of Democratic leadership to escort the president into the chamber Tuesday evening before his address – an experience he described as “pretty cool.” If it were him about to give a speech, Israel said he would be hurrying to make finishing touches on the text – but the president was “cool, calm, collected and jovial.”

“Here I was with a holding room with the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader,” said Israel. “It was pretty cool.”

Israel said he has a “good friendship” with Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Speaker John Boehner, who he described as “fair” in his performance so far leading the House. Nonetheless, Israel expressed disappointment that Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi no longer held the gavel.

“I hate that she’s not the speaker,” said Israel. “It irks me. It irks me to be in the minority.”
CORRECTION: Rep. Joe Wilson shouted “you lie” during a presidential speech in 2009. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the date of his outburst.

That look on Coons face is classic, from the halls of Congress to Madcow and Schultz who know they could be next to go at MSNBC - the Demwits all look like a bunch of slacker teenagers having to explain why they maxed out their parents credit card and trashed the house while the adults were away.

Me thinks they all need to go to their rooms, for like the next 20 years.

How about instead of investment (spending money we don't have) we just try NOT penalizing companies who create this innovation with onerous taxation and regulation ? You still have all the positives without the additional IOUs to China.

It's not rocket science. In order for ANY business to grow, it must invest in technology. How can one be pro-business and anti-progressive at the same time? Conservatives whine about the government NOT being ran like a business, but when the government agrees, conservative ideologues scream SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM, MARXISM.........oh my!

No more spending. Cut back to 2008 levels and then begin cutting from there.

Yep! The "freeze" mentioned comes after doubling the amount in the past two years. If my salary was doubled, then frozen for a few years, that would work for me, too! Do people understand what was said, or are they fixating on the word "freeze?"

When innovation comes out of the public sector it is available to the private sector to make use of financially. That's how the internet became huge. It started with the physical internet that was funded by DOD. Connected to that internet were computers around the world running on the UNIX operation system. UNIX was developed by Bell Labs using public money and they were forced to make it generally available for free. The came the World Wide Web that was developed by CERN, also publicly funded, and made available to be used for free. The result was an explosion of private sector uses of the technology and that explosion has not yet burned out.

Stem cell technology, green tech will also bring private sector jobs for our future. China is moving in that direction the same way the Russians moved on space technology in the 60s. We owe it to our children to take a leadership role in the technologies of the future.

Republicans would never have developed the World Wide Web. They never would have sent a manned ship to the moon. They never would have developed the interstate. It takes Democratic leadership to move our country forward.

Republicans would never have developed the World Wide Web. They never would have sent a manned ship to the moon. They never would have developed the interstate. It takes Democratic leadership to move our country forward.

Free bird: The World Wide Web was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee , MIT professor, in 1989, while George H. W. Bush, Republican, was President. The first manned spaceship to the moon was 1-20-69, when Richard Nixon, Republican, was President. The interstate highway system was built while Dwight Eisenhower, Republican, was President, to make it easier to move the military if necessary. Therefore, it appears that Democrats are more interested in social programs, not exactly what I call "moving the country forward." However, you didn't mention Roosevelt, Democrat, who helped provide jobs during the depression by using WPA, CCA, and other three-letter agencies, but I'll let you have that one.

It is all horse squeeze !!!! You can call it investments, innovation, future planning - it is your choice,

BUT IT IS ALL JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR SPENDING.

They still do not get it - - - WE ARE BROKE !!!

I find it exceedingly strange that most everyone in America, with the exception of those in Washington, understand that fact! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH OUR PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS? If they are really that inept, they should all be sent home, the lights turned out, and the door locked after them! We'd probably all be better off!